South Cambridgeshire 4-Day Work Week

In the UK, the South Cambridgeshire District Council made headlines by implementing one of the country's largest public-sector trials of a 4-day workweek.

This experiment aimed to assess whether employees could maintain or even improve their output while enjoying an extra day off each week.

Background

The South Cambridgeshire District Council initiated the 4-day workweek trial in January 2023, involving around 450 employees. The council faced significant recruitment and retention challenges due to the high cost of living in the area, making it difficult to attract and retain talent.

The 4-day workweek was seen as a bold solution to these issues, offering employees 100% pay for 80% of their time, with the expectation of maintaining 100% productivity.

This trial was closely monitored by researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Salford, who analyzed the impact of the reduced workweek on various aspects of the council's operations.

The trial, initially planned for 3 months, was extended for over a year due to its promising early results.

Key Findings from the Trial

The trial yielded impressive results across several key metrics:

• Productivity: Out of the 24 key performance indicators (KPIs) monitored, 11 improved, 11 remained unchanged or slightly changed, and 2 worsened. Despite these variations, the overall productivity levels were maintained, and in many cases, employees exceeded previous performance levels, even while working fewer hours​.
• Employee well-being: The trial significantly improved employees' mental and physical health, motivation, and commitment.
• Employee turnover: Staff turnover reduced by 39%, leading to substantial savings in recruitment costs.
• Talent attraction: Additionally, the council saw a 53% increase in job applications, with many new hires citing the 4-day week as a major attraction​.
• Financial savings: The council saved £371,500 annually by permanently filling roles that were previously hard to staff. These savings were largely due to reduced reliance on costly agency staff​.
• Improvement in service delivery: Specifically, housing planning applications were resolved more quickly, with an increase of 15% in the number of applications processed within the correct timeframe​

Challenges

Despite the overwhelmingly positive outcomes, there were a few areas where performance slightly declined.

• Rent collection: Rent collection slowed, largely attributed to the broader cost-of-living crisis.
• Re-letting of council homes: The speed of re-letting empty council homes slowed by 2 days​.

Government Response

The UK Government, particularly the Conservative administration, expressed significant concerns about the trial, labeling it a potential waste of taxpayers' money.

Despite the trial's success, the government issued multiple Best Value Notices, signaling its disapproval and threatening to use financial levers to disincentivize councils from adopting similar models in the future​.

The South Cambridgeshire District Council, however, stood by the trial, arguing that the benefits far outweighed the concerns. The council pointed to the improved service delivery, cost savings, and enhanced employee well-being as evidence of the trial's success.

Wrapping Up

The South Cambridgeshire District Council's 4-day workweek trial highlights the potential for public and private sectors to rethink traditional work structures, paving the way for a more balanced and effective workforce. Despite skepticism, the trial shows that a reduced workweek can maintain, even enhance, productivity while boosting employee morale and cutting costs.

If the idea of a 4-day workweek appeals to you, or if you're looking for remote and flexible job opportunities, visit our job listings. We offer a wide range of jobs from companies worldwide that are embracing the future of work, making it easier for you to find roles that support a healthier work-life balance.

Take the next step toward a more fulfilling career by signing up for our free newsletter to get weekly alerts for 4-day week jobs!